Calligraphy has taken me to The Cotswolds , Kent, West Sussex and Scotland in the last couple of months . This has involved plenty of teaching , some fascinating research and much discussion about lettering. One theme that emerged was the value of the interaction and exchange of ideas to the development of one’s working practice .

Le Livre de l’Ecclesiaste , 1602 inscribed by Esther Inglis

I belong to a small group of professional calligraphers who meet annually to share what we have been working on, reading and researching. The group established a lasting bond during the three year SSI Advanced Training Scheme that we all followed . This was around 15 years ago . (I now teach on this scheme).

We met in Edinburgh this year, at the home of group member Susie Leiper . Some of her larger pieces of work are hung in a brand new gallery space installed in her basement .

Susie Leiper discussing her work with our group

During our stay we spent an afternoon at the National Library of Scotland studying manuscripts. All bar one were written by women . They included work by Esther Inglis, the letters of Mary Queen of Scots to her mother , early Gaelic fragments , an illustrated 20th century travel journal and the illuminated manuscripts on vellum (all self taught) by Phoebe Anna Traquair .

Detail of wall painting by Traquair

An Arts and Crafts movement artist , Traquair , belonged to artistic and literary circles in Scotland and had access to museums through her husband who was a palaeontologist. Brought up in Dublin she was fascinated by The Book of Kells. She was a friend of JM Barrie and William Morris. All major influences in her artistic development. Like Morris she practiced a variety of craft skills to a high standard and her output was prolific. A converted church near Susie’s home displays striking wall and ceiling paintings by Traquair which took her many years to complete.

In contrast we also saw some contemporary art including a thought provoking exhibition by Louise Bourgeois. Influenced by psychoanalytical thinking of the time , many of her sculptures and paintings expressed her inner thoughts and feelings. Her creative relationship with her studio assistant was also explored. Not surprisingly many pieces contained lettering.